Don Alberto Baillères

Alberto Baillères has been the Chairman of the Asociación Mexicana de Cultura (Mexican Cultural Association) and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) for the past 36 years. Under his leadership, ITAM has become one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America. In addition, his financial support has been crucial to the institution’s development, and for that, the university community proudly acknowledges him as its patron.

Don Alberto Baillères received his undergraduate degree from Culver Military Academy in Indiana in 1950. During his stay at Culver, it instilled in him a sense of order and discipline which he has practiced in both his personal and professional life. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from ITAM’s undergraduate program in economics in 1957. ITAM awarded Mr. Baillères an honorary doctorate in 1999 in gratitude for his contributions to Mexico's social, educational, and business development. He ventured into the business world in 1951 when he assumed his first position at the Banco de Comercio, where he worked his way up to the position of Branch Manager whilst still an undergraduate student until his graduation in 1956. In 1957, he entered Cervecería Moctezuma Sales Department as a sales representative in Mexico City and was soon promoted to Metropolitan Area Sales Manager. Due to his extraordinary performance, he went on to hold various positions in different areas of this brewery, notably being appointed CEO Director in 1964. Then, he was named the CEO of El Palacio de Hierro, S.A. in 1963, where he carried an ambitious restructuring plan. Since 1967, he has held the position of Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of companies composing GRUPO BAL. He was also a member of the Chase Manhattan Bank Advisory Committee, headed by Dr. David Rockfeller from 1973 to 1977.

Currently, he is the Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of a wide ranging group of major Mexican companies composing GRUPO BAL, many of which were founded by him, namely Industrias Peñoles, Fresnillo plc, El Palacio de Hierro, TANE, Grupo Nacional Provincial, Profuturo, Valmex Casa de Bolsa, Grupo de Agro-Negocios BAL, and their most recent creation, PetroBal, Energía Eléctrica Bal, and EnerAB. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of leading Mexican companies, namely Grupo Financiero BBVA-Bancomer, Fomento Económico Mexicano, Desc Sociedad de Fomento Industrial, Grupo Televisa, and J.P. Morgan International Council.

Since 1967, he has been a member of Consejo Mexicano de Negocios, A.C. (Mexican Businessmen’s Council), an association of outstanding Mexican enterpreneurs. Furthermore, he is also a founding member of the following associations: Fundación para las Letras Mexicanas, A.C., Fundación UNAM, A.C., Fundación de Estudios Financieros, A.C., and Fundación Alberto Baillères. He also serves as Chair of Fundación de Estudios Financieros, A.C., and Fundación Alberto Baillères.

He has also been recognized by many institutions, namely The Woodrow Wilson Center, Latin Trade, Endeavor, The Americas Society, The Association of Fundraising Professionals, The Culver Academy, ITAM’s Alumni Association, etc.

During his professional career, he has distinguished himself as a patriotic leader and entrepreneur, who is fiercely loyal to Mexico and passionate about education, which he believes to be a key factor in Mexico’s development.

In recognition of his career, the Senate awarded him the highest distinction bestowed to a citizen, the Belisario Domínguez Medal in 2015.